The Business Disability Forum has released a manifesto urging comprehensive strategies for disability inclusion across the UK.
- The manifesto outlines five strategic priorities to improve work and societal experiences for disabled individuals.
- Key strategies include inclusive education, accessible employment pathways, and workplace adjustment prioritization.
- The manifesto calls for significant reform in sick pay and employment data strategies to enhance inclusion.
- A universal access approach to technology and communication is recommended for consistent inclusive practices.
The Business Disability Forum, on June 13, 2024, launched a manifesto advocating for a UK-wide strategy focusing on disability, health, and employment. This manifesto serves as a roadmap aimed at integrating disability inclusion into government policy, aimed at fostering an economy and society that is inclusive and values every individual.
A centerpiece of the strategy is ensuring that disabled individuals have access to an inclusive education, which encompasses tailored career advice and multiple pathways into employment. These pathways include accessible apprenticeships, supported internships, and post-university support, aiming to equip disabled individuals with the tools necessary for a successful career journey.
The manifesto also emphasizes the importance of workplace adjustments, which are changes made by employers to eliminate barriers for disabled employees. Such adjustments are crucial for allowing disabled people not only to access jobs but to sustain their employment. Additionally, repositioning and investing in the Access to Work service is pivotal. It proposes making this service more robust by removing the current cap, thus supporting individuals with higher support costs across all sectors.
Reforming sick pay is another critical proposal. The manifesto suggests a flexible Statutory Sick Pay that allows gradual return to work without financial penalties, thereby aligning fit note reforms with sick pay policies.
Moreover, the manifesto highlights the need for a comprehensive disability and employment data strategy. This involves moving beyond simple statistics to more nuanced data that reveals what supports disabled peoples’ work participation and what barriers they face.
On the policy front, the Business Disability Forum advocates for inclusive technology access throughout life, a UK-wide standard for accessible communication, and investment in infrastructure to support inclusion. Enhancements in public transport, integrated health and social care, and support for carers are essential parts of this strategy.
The manifesto, informed by dialogues with employers and disabled individuals, sets a vision for inclusive procurement standards and calls for every governmental and service provider to adopt policies that ensure accessible delivery in services ranging from public utilities to the advancement of technology.
The Business Disability Forum’s manifesto serves as a call to action for future policies ensuring a fully inclusive and accessible UK.
